• Dr. Coomer@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    15
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    There is a method of execution known as pressing, which was the crushing of someone under immense weight. One famous example occurred during the Salem witch trials where a man, not a woman, got so sick of salems bullshit that he refused to talk when questioned and so the town tried to get a confession out of him by stacking rocks on top of him, with the only response being “more weight”. He eventually died from the crushing pressure of the rocks. Another famouse example involves an elephant crushing a person, though it was common to crush the limbs then the head.

    • ALostInquirer@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      Thanks! I was aware of that execution method, but I’ve never read of a precise amount of weight employed in the process.

    • DroneRights [it/its]@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      The reason he refused to talk is that they were demanding he plead guilty or not guilty for being a witch. The accusers wanted his land, and if he was found guilty his land would be forfeited. But since he refused to plead, he couldn’t be legally found guilty, and his land was inherited by his kids. He was looking out for his family even if it meant a torturous death.